Forty per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima, citing the figure at the Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange. This translates to two in every five of Nigeria's youngest citizens growing into adults with underdeveloped bodies and brains. The issue has significant economic implications, with an estimated annual cost of $56 billion.
The country's leaders have agreed to treat the matter as an emergency, with the Vice President playing a key role in keeping it on the national agenda. The governors, represented by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, have pledged to declare nutrition a national emergency, create a National Nutrition Intervention Fund, and adopt a unified plan and budget.
The Federal Government will begin targeted interventions in two high-stunting states before widening the programme. This approach is based on Ethiopia's Seqota Declaration, which started in 2015 with the worst-hit communities and expanded after results were achieved. Nigerian officials have promised to apply a similar approach, starting small and measuring progress.
The commitments build on a foundation already laid, with the three tiers of government signing a Nutrition Compact on February 20, 2025, to establish a common commitment against malnutrition. The Addis Ababa pledges aim to reinforce this compact. According to Shettima, nutrition committees have been established in 32 state assemblies and over 450 local governments.
The Vice President reported that Nigeria's $26 million commitment to the Child Nutrition Fund attracted matching support, unlocking $52 million. Additionally, 21 states have contributed $6.3 million since 2023. However, 15 states still need to join, and the sum raised so far is small compared to the $56 billion annual cost of undernutrition.
The National Policy on Food and Nutrition 2026-2035 sets bold targets, aiming to reduce stunting to 32 per cent by 2029, 28 per cent by 2032, and 25 per cent by 2035. Achieving these targets will require significant progress, with a focus on transparency and accountability. The governors have promised to extend the National Nutrition Scorecard to local government and ward levels.
To demonstrate their commitment, governors should publish the National Nutrition Scorecard regularly and disclose how much of the 2027 budget will be allocated to addressing nutrition, line by line. A fund is only as good as the funds allocated to it. Key stakeholders will be watching to ensure that the new commitments translate into tangible results.
Key points
- Nigeria aims to reduce child stunting from 40% to 25% by 2035.
- The country's leaders have agreed to treat child stunting as an emergency.
- Governors have pledged to declare nutrition a national emergency and create a National Nutrition Intervention Fund.
